How We Met

I said several months ago that I would tell the story about how Steve and I met. I have saved it until this weekend, because I am thinking about all the single girls out there and what Valentine's Day can feel like. I hope this story will bring you hope and encouragement.
I graduated from college when I was 22 years old and moved to Fayetteville, Ar to teach art in a nearby town. I had lots of blind dates, a few dates and a couple of serious relationships. BUT......I knew I had never found "the one" and this had me longing to find him or should I say for him to find me!
I prayed for my husband most everyday. I prayed for what he was doing, his work, his commitment to Christ, etc. Around 26 or 27, I had this feeling that my husband was going to be someone who moved here from out of town. I don't know that this was some deeply spiritual revelation or just the fact that I was not meeting Mr Right and had no desire to move anywhere else. I KNEW God was big enough to bring him to this area. I had always been a part of singles Sunday school groups and I figured I would meet my husband in a singles group. Although, I never liked singles classes. I tried several in area churches and was always disappointed. I felt like those classes were forgotten by the church. I never felt like I fit in.
I began teaching a college group on Tuesday nights and I let that take my place of Sunday school. I don't think this was a very wise decision. I think EVERYONE should attend and be a part of a Sunday School class.
I felt convicted that I should go to SS so I made a commitment to go every Sunday in July of 2002. On the first Sunday, Steve was there. I thought he was very cute, southern and he answered question and joined in the discussion. This impressed me more than anything. After church the class was going to Chili's for lunch. Steve was there and I talked to him a little, but he was not very friendly. He was not rude, just quiet with me. We had a little conversation in the lobby at Chili's. I found out he was from Mississippi and that he had come to Arkansas to work on his Phd. I don't even remember where he sat at the table that day. There were about 10 of us that day.
I kept my committment to go to SS that month and Steve was there every week. We never talked again, that I can remember. He did wave at me in the parking lot one Sunday and told me to have a good week or something like that. It thrilled me!!!!!!!!
In Aug. I began attending another church and was away from my home church for a year or so. I told two or three people about Steve. I told Kelly and my friend Beth who lived in Franklin TN.
I just told them that I thought he was cute and that I would go out with him in a heartbeat. In Sept., I went to a concert with Kelly at my home church. It was Shaun Groves and Ronnie Freeman. At the intermission the stage was being changed up and guess who was pushing out the sound equipment and stuff???? Yes, Steve! I nearly came un-glued trying to get Kelly to see him in the dimly lit sanctuary. Kelly approved of his looks. ha!
In October, I went to a Razorback game with a friend from college. We were walking up the hill to go in the gate and I spotted Steve with one of his friends, Rob, in front of us. I had known Rob for several years from church. I didn't know him well, but well enough to talk" news, weather, sports." Rob and Steve spoke to me and Rob and I had a little conversation. I was just excited to see Steve.
NOW...........................fast forward to the July 2002. One year after my Summer SS committment. I was driving home from a trip to Little Rock. My phone rang and Kelly said bursting with joy," Laurie, Steve O. called Melinda (our friend from church) and asked if you had a boyfriend and wanted your number!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I had chills, I screamed with excitement. I looked at my spedometer and I was going 95!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called Melinda immediatly and she said," I think he might call you TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! " I prayed he would! I was wondering why, after all this time, was he wanting my number? Steve did call me that night and we talked about 10 minutes. I just had a good feeling about him.
We had our first date on July 12th 2003. He asked me lots of questions and was just easy to be with. I didn't come home turning cartwheels, but I just thought we was great(what I knew about him). There was sooo much about him that I liked. I was afraid that he might be real serious because he didn't say anything funny on our date. This concerned me a bit. But, on our second date he was REAL funny. He says he was just so nervous on our first date that he couldn't be funny.
On our third date, I found out something VERY interesting. When I saw Steve and Rob at the game, Steve had asked Rob what my name was and what he knew about me. Rob said, "her name is Kelly and she has a boyfriend who lives out of town." Rob had gotten me confused with Kelly. Kelly and I lived together for 7 years and I guess some people could not keep us straight. Kelly's boyfriend, Scott, did live in South Arkansas. Steve had thought from Oct 2002 until July 2003 that I was Kelly and I had a boyfriend. He realized Rob had Kelly and I confused when he was having dinner with some people that were talking about Kelly and me. Steve asked a few questions and knew he had us confused. He called Melinda and got my number.
We were engaged in April 2004 and married in October. I was 32.

Let me just encourage you to wait on God's best for you. I loved that I didn't have to chase Steve, he sought after me. He says he thought I was cute that July in SS but he was just shy. I joke that we could have dated a lot sooner if Rob had not gotten me confused. But, God's timing is always perfect.
Jesus loves you so much and knows your needs!